Games To Play If You Like Age Of Empires

Age of Empires is a top pick for the most popular real-time strategy game series ever made for computers. Its combination of constructing bases, managing resources, and enjoying exciting, large battles has been a hallmark of the genre for many years. However, even its most loyal players sometimes look for something new.

Whether you’ve finished every story mission, conquered all the challenges, or are simply curious about similar titles, you’ll discover a wealth of games that echo the feeling of Ensemble Studios’ classic, each offering a unique take on building and expanding an empire.

Tzar: The Burden Of The Crown

Real-Time Strategy For Fantasy Lovers

Strategy game fans might recall Tzar: The Burden of the Crown as a standout title from the early 2000s real-time strategy games. Though it didn’t get as much attention, this game takes the core ideas of AoE – gathering resources, constructing a base, and fighting through different ages – and adds a fantasy setting with some innovative gameplay features.

Tzar lets you develop your civilization in a variety of ways thanks to its adaptable tech tree, offering four distinct paths: focusing on religion, magic, warfare, or trade. Each path provides unique strategies to try. The engaging campaign combines political maneuvering with large battles, and powerful Hero units and magical abilities keep things interesting, rewarding clever decisions. Plus, Tzar includes excellent map editing and custom scenario tools, letting fans create their own stories.

War Selection

A Competitive RTS Experience With Progression Through The Ages

It’s rare to find free-to-play real-time strategy (RTS) games, and War Selection is a notable exception. In this game, you guide your civilization through seven distinct eras, starting in the Stone Age and advancing to the present day. The core gameplay feels a lot like Age of Empires 4; you’ll constantly be gathering resources to improve your structures, create advanced weaponry, and build up your army.

Besides playing alone, the game lets you compete against others in 1v1 and 2v2 matches. The game includes several different factions, and each one has unique weapons available depending on the era you’re in. Learn more about factions!

Rise Of Nations

The First Stop For AoE Fans

If you’re looking for a game that carries on the legacy of Age of Empires, Rise of Nations is the closest you’ll find. Created by Big Huge Games, Rise of Nations blends the classic progression through different historical periods with fast-paced, real-time strategy. As a player, you lead a nation from the Ancient Age all the way to the Information Age, gaining access to new units and technologies as you grow and expand across a world map reminiscent of Risk.

Rise of Nations combines big-picture strategy with detailed control. Unlike games where you simply build up defenses and gather resources, this game focuses on competing for land and managing losses in constantly shifting conflicts. As the game progresses, battles can span the entire globe, with modern tanks fighting ancient pikemen and planes destroying historic cities. Every part of the map is valuable, creating intense competition for resources and forcing players to carefully consider both their cities and their overall location. If you enjoy Age of Empires, Rise of Nations is a game you definitely shouldn’t miss.

Command & Conquer: Generals

A Classic RTS With Three Incredible Campaigns

Command & Conquer enthusiasts still haven’t forgotten when Electronic Arts canceled Generals 2, a real-time strategy game that many were eagerly awaiting. Following Red Alert 2, EA shifted focus and launched Generals, which portrayed contemporary conflicts involving three global forces: the United States, China, and a revolutionary group.

With a distinct campaign tailored for each side, Generals quickly rose to become a top real-time strategy game of its era. The authentic range of attack and defense units available to each faction was a key reason for its widespread success at the time.

Halo Wars

A RTS Spinoff Of One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi FPS Franchises Of All Time

As a longtime fan, I can say the Halo series is easily one of the best first-person shooter franchises ever made. I know some people were a little disappointed with Halo Infinite, feeling it didn’t quite reach the amazing level of the previous games. But honestly, I really enjoyed the single-player campaign! I thought they did a great job of blending in the open-world elements – it felt pretty smooth and natural. It was a highlight for me, even if it wasn’t perfect. You can find more information about the series here.

Considering how well-loved Halo is, it’s understandable that the series has spawned several spinoff games. One of these is Halo Wars, a real-time strategy game where players complete numerous missions by constructing bases and deploying powerful units to defeat enemies with careful planning. While the strategic aspects might not fully satisfy some players, Halo Wars compensates with impressive cutscenes, an engaging story, and a fantastic portrayal of the Halo universe, which really strengthens the franchise. The involvement of the team behind Age of Empires 4 makes Halo Wars a simple recommendation for fans of that game.

Warcraft 3

One Of The Richest, Most Imaginative Settings Ever Devised For An RTS

It’s easy to understand why so many players were upset with how Warcraft 3: Reforged launched. It didn’t just stop people from playing a better version of the game, but it also came across as a rushed and uninspired release from a developer who hasn’t been performing at their peak.

Despite requiring players to adapt to some older mechanics, Warcraft 3 remains a truly exceptional real-time strategy game. It’s remarkably rich in atmosphere, backstory, and narrative – something you don’t often find in this type of game. If you’re looking for a game similar to Age of Empires, but set in a fantasy world, you’ll really enjoy what Warcraft 3 offers.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6

A Great Choice If You Prefer Turn-Based Strategy

The Civilization series, created by Sid Meier, is famous for its turn-based strategy, but players who enjoy AoE will find a lot to appreciate here as well. Civilization 6 challenges you to lead a civilization from its earliest stages to a position of world leadership, emphasizing strategic, long-term planning.

While the gameplay is a bit more deliberate than AoE, the core enjoyment stays the same: growing your cities, researching new technologies, and fighting historical enemies. The game’s map, divided into hexagons, and the “districts” system create deeper city-building options, and the AI leaders have distinct personalities and won’t forget if you offend them. Civ 6 offers multiple paths to victory – through military strength, scientific advancement, or cultural influence – meaning that raw power isn’t always the answer. If you’re looking for a turn-based strategy game to achieve world domination, Civ 6 provides a great alternative to the fast-paced, real-time action of AoE.

Empire Earth

Age Of Empires On Steroids

People often describe a game as “Age of Empires on steroids,” but Empire Earth truly deserves that title. Created by Stainless Steel Studios and led by AoE’s original co-creator, Rick Goodman, Empire Earth takes the core gameplay and expands on it in many ways. The game features extensive campaigns and randomly generated maps that span a massive period of history – from the earliest cave dwellings all the way to futuristic settings with nanotechnology – offering numerous eras and a complex technology tree to learn.

As a longtime fan of strategy games, I immediately felt right at home with the resource gathering and base-building in Empire Earth. And honestly, the sheer scale of this game is incredible! You’re talking huge armies, air forces, even nuclear weapons, and the tech tree moves so quickly that every match feels fresh. Seriously, watching knights clash with cybernetic mechs never gets old! I was really impressed with the level of detail everywhere you look – from how customizable each civilization is to the powerful scenario editor. If you’re an Age of Empires fan looking for something a little more unpredictable and off-the-rails, this game is absolutely perfect.

Age Of Mythology

AoE With A Mythical Flavor

No discussion of this subject would be complete without mentioning Ensemble Studios’ hit spin-off, Age of Mythology. It builds on the well-loved AoE formula, but adds a fantastical twist. Instead of focusing on ordinary people, players can call upon gods and mythical creatures from Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology. This creates a game that’s both comfortably familiar and refreshingly different.

The core gameplay still focuses on collecting materials and constructing buildings, but each civilization’s special mythical units and divine abilities add a lot of excitement. The strategic choices are both visually impressive and genuinely useful. Think raining meteors? Absolutely. Massive Frost Giants? You got it. The single-player campaign is among the very best in the genre, packed with unforgettable, large-scale battles. If you’re longing for the classic AoE experience but want to add dragons and lightning to the mix, then Age of Mythology is the clear game to play next.

Stronghold Crusader

Sieges Don’t Get Any Better

Stronghold Crusader is a castle-building game that makes attacking and defending castles incredibly enjoyable. Although Age of Empires includes siege weapons like catapults and battering rams, Stronghold Crusader focuses entirely on the strategy of both offense and defense. Players need to gather supplies, build an army, and carefully construct strong defenses to protect against enemy attacks.

Stronghold Crusader really challenges you to think outside the box. Setting up traps and using the high ground effectively are key to a good defense. Managing your economy is unique compared to AoE; you’ll be carefully controlling things like bread, ale, and keeping your villagers happy. Plus, online matches often last a long time, and even one mistake can lead to defeat, while the campaign’s “Crusader Trail” offers a difficult challenge for experienced players.

2025-09-30 04:36